The Portugal national football team. EURO 2008. Group A

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The Portugal national football team is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). At the last World Cup they were 4th. Portugal have qualified four times for the FIFA World Cup; 1966 , 1986 , 2002 and 2006 . The first appearance saw them reach the semi final, losing 2-1 at Wembley to the eventual world champions England . Portugal finished in third place and Eusébio was considered the best player of the tournament. For the World Cup Portugal qualified in 1986 and 2002, with Portugal going out in the first round both times after surprise defeats to Morocco, United States and South Korea . In the 1986 tournament, players went on strike over prize-money and refused to train between their first and the second games.

In 2003, the Portuguese Football Federation decided to hire Luiz Felipe Scolari , the Brazilian who had led the Brazil national football team to win the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Portugal has never won any major competition at senior level only qualifying four times. In 1986 and 2002 World Cup competitions Portugal was going out in the first round both times. Scolari led Portugal to the final of Euro 2004 (The European Championships), where they lost to Greece, and to their second World Cup semi final in 2006, where they lost to France. The Portuguese finished in fourthunable to equal Eusebio's 1966 third place finish as they lost to hosts Germany 3-1 on July 8 in Stuttgart, place in the 2006 World Cup.

European Championships

1984 European Championship

In 1984 Portugal for the first time entered the European Championship. In the qualifying round, the team almost didn't qualify, but a 1-0 victory over USSR in the last game made it possible. Portugal ended in group B, alongside Spain, West Germany and Romania. In the first two games, they tied 0-0 and 1-1 against West Germany and Spain , respectively. A 1-0 win over Romania gave them the second place in the group, which was enough to go through to the elimination round.

They would play against hosts, France. It was in one of the most excited matches in Euro Cup history. France scored first, but Portugal tied it almost an hour later. The game ended and the two teams would play in extra time. Portugal made 2-1 in the first half and both teams could have scored more goals. In the second half France scored with six minutes to go and in the last one. Portugal had been eliminated in the semi-finals.

1996 European Championship

In the final tournament, Portugal 1-1 with European Champions Denmark , won 1-0 to Turkey and Croatia by 3-0, finishing first in their group. In the quarter-finals they lost 1-0 to eventual runners-up, Czech Republic .

2000 European Championship

This tournament was the inaugural success of the so-called " Golden Generation ", captained by Luís Figo . They defeated England, Romania, and Germany to finish atop their group and then defeated Turkey in the quarter-finals. Nuno Gomes is one of the best strikers with a high performance of 4 goals this tournament.

In the semi-final meeting with World Cup holders France, Portugal scored first. However, France equalized and Portugal was eliminated in extra time by a golden goal when Zinedine Zidane converted a penalty. Austrian referee Gunter Benko controversially awarded the spot kick for a handball after Abel Xavier blocked a shot from Sylvain Wiltord . (Benko initially gave France a corner but changed his mind after consulting with a Slovak linesman Igor Sramka). Abel Xavier, Nuno Gomes and Paulo Bento were given lengthy suspensions for shoving the referee.

2004 European Championship

This tournament was held in Portugal . Portugal, as the host nation, lost the first game against Greece, Greece winning 2-1. They got their first win against Russia 2-0 and also beat Spain 1-0. They went through and went on to play against England. It was an entertaining game to watch, it went on to penalties and Portugal went through with Ricardo scoring the wining penalty. Portugal beat Holland 2-1 in the semi-final with a lovely goal from Maniche. They were eventually beaten by rank outsiders Greece by a goal to Nil, credits to Greek striker, Angelos Charisteas . Previously, on the opening match, Greece beat Portugal 2-1. This is the first time in the history of the competition that the final featured the same two teams as the opening match.

2008 European Championship